Tubing catcher



. .March 12, 1929. P. G. LEONARD 705,192

TUBING CATCHER Filed Aug. 19. 1927 v ZSheets-Sheet l I IIII unmuinml' HHM fifa/may March 12,1929. G. LEONARD TUBING cxx-CHER Filed Aug. 19, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 2 l Wl q ...U

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Patented Mar. 12, 1929.`

PETER GUSTAF LEONARD, OF WEST TULSA., OKLAHOMA.

TUBING CATCHER.

Application filed August 19, 1927. Sierial No. 213,996.

My invention relates to a tubing catcher, and more particularly to anchor or catcher means used for holding tubing in an oil well casing upon any sudden rupture or drop of said tubing therein.

The main object of this invention is to provide a tubing catcher which will automatically and unfailingly anchor the tubing in the well easing upon any sudden drop of said tubing, and furthermore to provide it with means and construct it so that the catching means will be automatically released upon a forceful pull on the tubing and the parts will be automatically returned and reset in their'release or inoperative position, Another object is to provide the gripping or catching means in the form of preliminary gripping means and main gripping means, the latter ybecoming' effective upon the engagement of the former with the well casing.l A further object is to provide means for positively releasing both sets of gripping means and to'return them into their inoperative position. Still another' object is to construct the preliminary gripping means in the form of eccentrics, and to provide means for resiliently mounting them, and for returninfi them into inoperative position and safely holding them therein, so as to automatically reset the gripping means after they have been rendered operative upon a sudden drop in the well casing.

These and other objects and advantages are attained with inyiiivention, as will become apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, iii which, I l

1 is an elevational view et my iniproved new tubing catcher, sliow'nin its inoperative or release position, as initially entered into a well casing;

Fig. 2 is aii elevational view thereof, durin the beginning of a sudden drop of the tubing and catcher, slimviiig the holdingA dogs retarded by the fall and the release lever arins partly lowered with their attached ccceiitrics or preliminary gripping means beginning to bite into the well casing;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal cross-section, taken on line 3 3 of Fig'. l;

Fig. i is a vertical sectional view of the catcher, showing` the parts drop, when both sets of gripping means have become fully operative in engaging the well casing;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal cross-section, taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4t; f

the end` of the.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view, showing the parts in position during the first part of a forceful pull on the tubing, after the rlever arms have been raised and reset, like in Fig. 1, and have stressed the spring connection with the preliminary gripping means, while the releasing collar is beginning to knock loose the spreader cone from theinain gripperslips to release them, whereupon the preliminary means are reset by their stressed spring means; during the final part of said pull; and

Fig. 7 is a detail view, .sho ing the spring connection between one of the preliminary gripping means and its operating shaftand lever arm. v

ln the drawings l have illustrated my new and improved invention in its preferred form of construction, comprising a tubing section or central tube l0, which is adapted to be used in place of an ordinary tubing section. Guide collars or members l1, provided with guide collars 12, are threaded on the ends of tubing section 10, and may be used as coupling members, as indicated i the drawings, rThe other parts or elements are mounted around this central tube l0.

The entire gripping means or .mechanism in this form of'my invention comprises two sets of gripping means or elements, the prehn'iinary griping means and the main gripping means, whereof the former become first operative and` thereby effect the movement of the latter into operation, so that botlrsets firmly grip into 'the wall of awell casing 13 and hold the catcher and tubing sections positively suspended.

A supporting ii'ieiiiber or spider 14 is slidably mounted on tube l0, between the upper guide collar. 1l and an annulari'iangc le at the intermediate part oi" the tube.I This spider is preferably constructed in the form of a sleeve having spaced flanges or ears 14 and la arranged in pairs at opposite sides of the sleeve, for supporting and carrying the preliminary gripping means and operating means therebetween.

rIhe preliminary gripping means comprises a member 16, preferably in the form of an eccentric or roller with teeth 16 eccentrically arranged around the axis, and this eccentric is pivotally mounted between a pair of said flanges 14 and 11i, as by means of a shaft 17" which is vrotatable in said iianges. A lever arm 17 is fastened or iiXed on the end of this shaft, for turning the shaft and therewith the ico llO

eccentric 16, which is resiliently mounted on the shaft by means ot a spring 18 having one end 18 fastened to the shaft, and the other end 18 bearing against the flattened side otA the eccentric 16. See Figs. 1- and i'. rhe lever arm thus provides means for operating the eccentric, and with the use ot' this spring is resiliently connected thereto, permitting movement oit the arm and shaft relative to the eccentric, as becomes necessary when returning the arm to inoperative posit-ion thereby stressing the spring, `before the eccentric is released, as indicated in `Fig. G, for resetting this gripping means.

The means provided for positively holding or retaining the lever arms 17 and the connected eccentrics 1G in their inoperative or release position, as shown in Fig. 1, includes Vdogs or holding members 19, mounted with pivot elements 2O on flanges 1li-Q to swing vertically, each dog having a notch 19 for engaging the free end of an arm and holding it in its elevated or reiease position. A pin 21 may further be provided on one dog, and a suitable notch on the opposite dog, for maintaining the dogs in similar vertical positions and assure simultaneous movement thereof. v

The main gripping means comprises elongated Wedge-like gripping elements or gripper slips 22, which are pivotally mounted on the spider, with pins 23 placed in lugs or ears 2d provided around the loiver end of the spider. These slips have suitable serrar tions or teeth 22 on their outer curved portions, for biting into the Well casing, and are arranged to depend or hang normally free from` the Well casing.

The means for spreading and moving these slips to their operative position to grip the Well casing comprises an inverted conical or tapered spreading member 25, which slid ably surrounds tube 10 and has a pocket or annular chamber 26 in its broader upper end, around tube 10, to receive the annular 'tl-ange l5 o1 said tube therein, and thereby limits the upward movement oit d member 25 on the tube. A spring 2'?, seated on the lovver guide collar 11, engages under said member 25 and under a collar or disc 28 attached to the lower end of said member and normally retains the member in its elevated or release position, and this disc. has lugs 29 thereon with outer curved portions for receiving the lovver curved ends of the gripper slips 22, thereby normally holding them spaced inwardly from the Well casing.

I furthermore provide means for positively releasing Iand again resetting both sets of gripping mea-ns, after they have been rendered operative and gripped the Well casing, as through a sudden dr-op of the tubing sections, and this means will reset all of the gripping means automatically by a orceful 4pull on the tubing sections, so as to render my tubing catcher ready 'for any future drop and to again become operative and stop the same. This releasing and resetting means comprises flanges or ribs 30 provided on tube 10, above annular flange 15, and they are movable vertically in slots or grooves 31 provided in spider 14,' as shown in 3 to G. These ribs 30V engage under the free ends of the lowered lever arms, when the parts are in their operative position, as sliovvn in vFig. 4, and upon a forceful pull on the tubing they raise and reset the arms into their initial operative position, as indicated in Fig. (i. Thereupon a member or collar 32, which is provided on tube 10, above the lower guide collar 11, is raised with said tube to knock under the spreader cone and break it loose trom the gripper slips 22; whereupon the eccentrics or preliminary gripping means are automatically rotated and released by the continuing upward movement ot the spider and by the tension of the springs 18, stressed by the previously raised lever arms, and reset in their initial inoperative position.

Operation of 7L/s improved tubing catcher.

The tubing catcher is connected to the tubing sections and lowered therewith into the veli casing, with the elements or parts all placed in their release or inoperative positions, as indicated in Fig. 1 .of the drawings. Upon any rupture and sudden drop of the tubing sections the dogs 19 are suiiiciently retarded to free lever arms 17 which drop and nieve the eccentric-s 16 into engagement with the Well casing 13, as indicated in Fig. 2. Such engagement forces further turningand complete gripping position of these eccentrics, whereby the spider 1-1 and the gripper slips 22 carried thereby are stopped, and the descending spreader cone 25 forces sail slips into positive operative position, as indica-ted in Fig. L1, thus placing all parts in their Ioperative gripping positions.

To release the parts and reset Athem in their inoperative positions, .a forceful pull on the tubing sections will sli-de the tube 10 upward in the spider .and gripping elements, whereby ribs 30 on the tube Will lift lever arms 17 into engagement With dogs 19 to be held thereby in the original inoperative position, as indicated in Fig. 6. In the meantime releasing' colla-r 32 has been forcefully engaged under spreader cone 25 and is breakin g it loose Tfrom the gripper slips 22, which there-upon return to their inoperative posit-ion, guided by the upper curved portions on lugs 29. Then d-uring the final part of this upiva-rd puil the spider is moved upward thereby rotating and releasing the eccentrics 16, which are then further forced back in-to their release position by the springs 18 held under stress by the previously raised lever arms 17, thus cautmatically returning` and resetting ail parts in their initial inoperative orrelease posit-ion,

lll)

as indicated in Fig. l, allready for any future drop ot the tubing sections and the catcher, and to again become operative and stop the saine.

Although l have disclosed my present invention herein in its preferred form, it may be noted that various changes in the construci tion may be resorted to and are intended to be comprehended hereby, as far as 'warranted by the existing prior art.

Vhat I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A tubing catcher comprising eccentric gri )ping means, means fastened thereto for positively turning the same, and means to hold both means in the inoperative position but to release the same upon sudden drop of the tubing Jror the gripping means to become operative. v

Q. A tubing catcher comprising rotatable gripping means, means resiliently connected therewith tor actuating the same, and means for normally holding said actuating means With said gripping means inoperative, but to release said actuating means upon a sudden drop ot the tubinglor rendering said gripping means operative.

3. A tubing catcher' comprising eccentric gripping means, means connected therewith t'or actuating the same, means to hold botl means inoperative but to release them upon sudden drop of the tubing for becoming 0perative, and means for returning and resetting the parts in their inoperative position.

A. A tubing catcher comprising gripping means, arms connected therewith for actuating the same, and means tor normally engaging said arms and holding them With said gripping means inoperative but which upon sudden drop of the tubing is retarded and releases said arms to render the gripping means operative.

5. A tubing cate ier comprising a supporting member, gripping means rotatably mounted thereon, arms tor actuating said.

means, and dogs on said member to normally hold said arms and means inoperative, but to raise upon sudden drop of the tubing and 'free said arms and render said gripping means operative.

6. A tubing catcher comprising a spider, a shalt thereon and means for turning it, an eccentric gripper resiliently mounted on said shaft, and means for normally holding the yshaft and is turning means With the o'ri er inoperative but to release them upon sudden drop oit' the tubing.

7. A tubing catcher comprising a central tul. ing, a supporting member slidable thereon, gripping means on said member and having arms fastened thereto whereby to positively move the same, means for holding said arms and gripping means normally inoperative but to release the arms automatically upon a sudden drop of the tubing to render the gripping means operative, and means on said tubing tor positively moving said arms into engagement with said holding means, by a torce'tul pull on the tubing, for resettingthe parts and again holding them inoperative.

8. A tubing catcher comprising a central tube, a supporting member' slinable thereon, eccentric gripping means on said member, arms on said member for actuating said gripping means, means for holding said arms and gripping means inoperative but to release them upon a drop of the tubing to become operative, means on said tube to engage and return said arms to be again held by said holding means, upon a sudden pull on the tubing, and spring means connecting said gripping means resiliently with said arms permitting relative movement therebetween and nal return of said gripping means.

9. A tubing catcher comprising a central tube, a spider slidable thereon, gripping means on said spider, arms on the spider for actuating said means, dogs for holding said arms in rel-ase position with the gripping means, said dogs being retarded to release the arms upon a drop ot thetubing, and elements vlifted on said tube to move upward therewith relative to the spider and raise said arms to the dogs to be held inoperative thereby, upon a. sudden pull on the tubing.

l0. A tubing' catcher comprising preliminary and main gripping means, means :tor rendering the preliminary and then the main gripping means operative upon a drop of the tubing, and means ier returning and resetting said main means and also said preliminary means in their inoperative position automatically upon a 1forceful pull on tl e tubing.

ll. A tubing catcher having a supporting member with preliminary and main gripping means pivotally mounted on` the member, spreading means lor the main gripping means, and means fer holding the preliminary gripping means inoperative inehu'ling engaging elementsl which disengage upon a sudden drop of the tubing to render said preliminary means operative and permit `the main gripping means to become operative on said spreading means.

12. A tubing 'catcher comprising a supporting member having eccentric gripping means thereon, main gripping means pivotally mounted on said member, arms for actuating said eccentric means, means for holding the arms and thereby said eccentric means inoperative but to release said arms and permit operation ot the eccentric means upon a sudden drop of the tubing, thus retarding the drop of said supporting member and the main gripping means, and means for spreading the main means to positively stop the drop of the tubing.

13. A tubing catcher comprising a central tube, a supporting member slidable on said tube, preliminary and main gripping means pivotally mounted on said member, a spreading member on said tube for spreading said main means, arms en said supporting member 'for actuating said preliminary means, means 'for holding said arms inoperative but release them upon a sudden drop oli the tubing, whereby said arms move the preliminary means into engagement with a surrounding well casing, and .said main gripping means are forced outward by said spreading member, and means on said tube for moving said ar is into the release position and lor forcing the spreading means to release the main gripping means.

le. A tubing catcher comprising a. central tube, a supporting member slidable thereon, eccentric gripping means and main gripping means pivotally mounted on said member, spreading means tor said main means, arms for actuating said eteentrie means, means to hold said arms but to release them for rendering said eccentric means operative ugon a sudden drop ot' the tul ing, thereby stopping the drop oil said supporting member and .said main gripping means to malre them operative on said spreading means, means on the tube for raising said arms, upon a toreetul pull on the tubing, to return them ior moving` the eccentric gripping means to inoperative position, and means on the tube to positively brealr loose the spreading means from the main gripping means.

l5. A tubing catcher comprising a central tube, a supporting member slidable on said tube, preliminary and main gripping means mounted on said member, spreading means on the tube for spreading said main means, arms on said member 'for actuating said preliminary means, means or holding said arms normally inoperative but to release them upon a drop of the tubing to render the preliminary means operative, means on the tube 'for raising and r ,tting said arms upon a forestal pull on the tubing, means on the tube to break loose the spreading means from the main gripping means for return the same to the release position, and spring means between the preliminarf.T gripping means and the arms being stressed by the arms for resetting 'these gripping means in the initial position.

16. A tubing catcher compris a central tube, a spider slidable on the mbe, main gripping means and preliniinary eccentric grip-- ping means pivotill arms on said spi r for actuating said preliminary means, means i'or holding the arms inoperative, but to release them ior moving the preliminary means to operative position, means for spreading the main means operi tive, after the preliminary means are operative and have stopped the spideigelements on the tube for .engaging and resetting said arms automatically upon a pull on'the tubing, a collar the be Ator releasing the spreading' means 'from said main means, and spring iieans connected to the eccentric preliminary means and to means on the arms for turning said eccentric means to release position Vupon release of said main means.

In testimony whereof I have ,signed my name to this specilication.

PETER GUSTAF LEONARD.

y mounted on said spider, 

